Leer feeder



y 1933- o. c. K. I-YIUTCHINSON 1,906,605

LEER FEEDER Filed March.7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 2, 1933.

O. C. K. HUTCHINSON LEER FEEDER Filed March 7. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1933- o. c. K. HUTCHINSON LEER FEEDER Filed March 7. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 a 1933- o. 6:. K. HUTCHINSON 1 1,906,605

LEER FEEDER Filed March 7. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a a S I gwuenloo act/ Km May 2, 1933.

o. c. K. HUTCHINSQN LEER FEEDER Fil ed March 7. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a u .w. m mm W 3 mm mm NN wk 1] il H0 & I (N WK km WW no 7 v. VH

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OLIVER G. K. HUTG'HINSON, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OWENS-ILLINOIS GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OIilIIO LEER FEEDER Application filed March 7,

The present invention relates to improvements in leer feeders and more particularly to that type in which a reciprocating pusher bar operates automatically at regular time intervals to sweep rows of bottles or jars from a. cross conveyor to a leer conveyor which extends through the annealing leer or oven.

Because of the fact that a modern shop which includes an automatic forming machine, an annealing leer, and associated mechanisms, is designed to produce bottles and jars of various sizes, it is desirable and in fact necessary, if real efficiency is to be expected, to includein such a shop a leer feeder which may be adjusted without difli culty to handle a comparatively wide range of ware sizes. In this connection it should be understood that where the leer feeder. embodies a pusher bar which sweeps over a cross conveyor at regular time intervals for the purpose of pushing rows of bottles or jars from said conveyor into the receiving end of the leer, it is essential that the number of articles constituting successive rows being placed in the leer shall not exceed a predetermined maximum and that the bottles or other articles be so positioned in front of the receiving opening of the leer as to; positively prevent the pusher bar, during its working stroke, from striking the first bottle of the group which will-constitute the next succeeding row to be placed in the leer. The possibility of producing articles of glassware of different sizes in a single modern shop merely serves to complicate the situation in so far as functioning of the leer feeder is concerned and necessitates the use of a very flexible form of feeder which may be adjusted without undue difliculty to meet the varying demands made upon it.

Accordingly an outstanding feature of the present invention is the provision of a leer feeder fully capable of producing the desired results above outlined, and others, as will be apparent herein.

Another feature is the provision of a leer feeder embodying novel means whereby bottles and jars "of varying height as well as l 1931. Serial No. 520,972.

this end the pusherbar, comprising a part of the present leer feeder, includes an ar ticle steadying member adapted to engage the upper portions of the articles and capable 0 being adjusted according to, the particular article being handled.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a major portion of an apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the leer feeder operatively associated with {he receiving end of a glassware annealing eer.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. a

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailperspective view showing the article steadying member adjustably connected to the pusher bar mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view with parts in elevation taken along the line VV of Fig. 3 and showing the transfer plate interposed between the machine conveyor and the cross conveyor.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view more or less diagrammatically illustrating the driving and speed regulating mechanisms for the conveyors and pusher bar.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the means for transferring articles, such as bottles from the machine conveyor to the cross conveyor, unnecessary detail being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail showing the stantially along the line IXIX of Fig. 3"-

showing a part of the conveyor and pusher bar driving means and the tlmer which 15 utilized to advance or retard the operating positions of the transfer fingers which push the articles from one conveyor to the other.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along the line X"-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view show 50 diameter, may besatisfactorily handled. To ing a-slightly modified form of guide rail.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the rail.

In more or less general terms the present leer feeder consists of a machine conveyor 12, a cross conveyor 13, a reciprocating puslr or bar 14 and driving mechanism 15 for the conveyors and pusher bar. Articles of glassware, such as bottles or jars, are placed upright upon one end of the machine conveyor 12 immediately upon their removal from the finishing molds of a forming machine (not shown) and at the other end of said conveyor, are automatically transferred to the cross conveyor 13 which extends transversely of the leer 16 in proximity to the receiving opening 17 thereof. The pusher bar 14 is operated in such timed relation to movement of the cross conveyor 13 that it sweeps over the cross conveyor toward the receiving opening of the leer immediately upon accumulation of a suflicient number of bottles on said cross conveyor to form a row whose length is approximately equal to the internal width of the leer tunnel. The pusher bar, upon completion of each working stroke, is retracted and simultaneously moved vertically so that it clears the next succeeding row of bottles or jars, the formation of which was started immediately after the preceding row be an its movement into the leer.

More specidcally the leer feeder includes an endless type cross conveyor 13 (Figs. 1, 3, and 6) extending transversely of the leer 16 in proximity to the receiving opening 17 and a leer conveyor 18 which extends through the leer. The cross conveyor ,13 is trained over a pair of horizontally spaced drums 19 which are journaled in bearings on the frame 20 (Fig. 1), said frame being suitably mounted upon the front end wall of the leer 16. The cross conveyor 13 is moved continuously in such a fashion that the ware bearing reach thereof travels from right to left as indicated in Fig. 1, such movement being obtained by means of a variable speed electric motor 21 connected to said conveyor through suitable gearing to be now described.

A motor shaft 22 (Figs. 3 and 6) extends forwardly from themotor 21 and carries :1 worm 23which runs in mesh. with a-worm gear 24 at the right end of a shaft 25 (Figs. 1 and 6) extending parallel with and in a ."plane below the cross conveyor 13. This shaft 25 is journa-led in bearings 26, the bearing at the left end of the shaft('Fig. 1) being formed as part of a gear box 27. A worm 28 (Fig. 6) carried by the shaft 25 and disposed within the gear box 27 (Fig. 1), runs in mesh with a worm gear 2-9 also arrange within said gear box and mounted upon a horizontal shaft 30 disposed at a right an le to the shaft 26. A sprocket 31 (Figs. 1 and 6) on the outer end of the shaft 30 is connected through a sprocket chain 32 to a sprocket 33 carried by the adjacent drum 19 over which the cross conveyor 13 is trained. Thus when the motor 21 is operating, power is transmitted through the gears and shaft just described, resulting in continuous movement of the cross conveyor. By means including the machine conveyor 12 to be described in detail presently, articles such as bottles and jars, are brought in succession to the cross conveyor 13 and placed in rows thereon in alignment with the receiving opening 17 of the leer. Groups of these articles in row formation are then removed from the cross conveyor and placed in upright positions upon the leer conveyor 18 by a transfer mechanism including the afore mentioned reciprocating pusher bar 14.

The transfer mechanism includes in addition to the pusher bar 14, ware steadying means (Figs. 3 and 4) comprising a pair of horizontally spaced bars14 arranged parallel to and above the pusher bar 14. These steadying bars are adj ustably secured together by a pair of screw rod connectors 14 and adjusting nuts 14, so that the spaced relation therebetween may be varied as required by the type of ware being placed in the leer. One of the steadying bars 14a is disposed directly above the pusher bar 14 and 0011- nected to the pusher bar supporting arms 35. In order that bottles and jars of different heights may be satisfactorily handied, the stea'dying bars 14 are adjustable vertically with respect to the pusher bar 14. The construction whereby such adjustment may be obtained comprises fasteners 35*, such as bolts, carried by one of the steadying bars 14 and extending through vertical slots 35 in the supporting arms 35. Thus, the steadying bars which are adapted to straddle-the upper portions of bottles or jars to prevent their being upset as they are pushed into the leer, may be accurately adjusted as .required by the height of the bottles-or jars being handled.

The transfer mechanism operates continuously and in a fashion to cause .the pusher bar 14 as well as the steadying bars 14, to sweep over the cross conveyor 13 toward the leer at regular time. intervals and. in

timed relation to the placing of bottles. or

jars upon said conveyor. The pusher bar 14 during its working stroke is moved to -move upwardly to a plane above the upper ends of the bottles and simultaneously is also moved away from the receiving openmately the position shown in Fig. 1. The construction by which such vertical move ment of the pusher bar 14 is obtained com- 7 prises vertical arms 35 secured to the ends of said pusher bar 14 and extending upwardly therefrom for connection through T-shaped connectors 36 to pairs of parallel links 37, the upper ends of which are pivoted to forward ends of a'pair of levers 38. These levers 38 (Figs. 1 and 3) are connected together and journaled upon a shaft 39 extending transversely over the leer 16. said shaft being spaced above the leer roof and mounted on suitable supports 40. Forwardly of the supports 40 there is provided means for rocking said levers 38 about the shaft 39 for the purpose of imparting vertical movement to the pusher bar 14. This lever rocking means (Figs. 2 and 3) includes a-pair of rotary cams 41 which are mounted upon a continuously rotating horizontal shaft 42 and operatively engage rollers 43 carried by the levers 38. Continuous rotation of the shaft 42 (Figs. 1, 3, and 6) and said cams 41 is obtained by means including a sprocket 44' secured to an extension of the shaft 42 and a sprocket chain 45 trained over said sprocket 44 and a second sprocket 46 which is mounted upon a short horizontal shaft 47 suitably journaled in bearings in the gear box 27, said shaft 47 in turn being operatively connected by meshing gears 48=to the shaft 30 in said gear box. The cams 41 in operating to periodically raise the pusher bar and parts immediately associated therewith, are assisted by counter weights 49 secured to the inner ends of the levers 38.

For the purpose of reciprocating the 0 pusher bar to thereby cause it to sweep rows of articles from the cross conveyor 13 at regular time intervals, a pair of coil springs 50 are provided, each connected at one end to a bracket 51 on one of the supports 40,

and at, its other end to one of a pair of bell crank levers 52 and then through a link 53 to a pair of parallel links 37. Operation of the springs -.for the purpose of'moving the pusher bar toward the I'GCEIYlllg OPElllllff 17 is regulated by a, pair of rotary cams 54 suitably secured to the horizontal shaft These cams are individual to the bell crank levers and at all times engage cam rolls 55 -which are carried by said bell crank levers 55 52. Each cam 54 (Figs. 1 and 2) is so shaped and positioned on the shaft with respect to the cams 41 which lift the pusher bar that almost immediately after said bar assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

the cam rolls 55 on the bell crank levers move upward a short distance and allow the springs 50 to move the pusher bar toward and a predetermined distance into the ware receiving opening '11.. One arm of each bell crank lever 52 is providedwith a series of openings 56 so that'the point of connection between said lever and link 53 may be changed to thereby regulate the length of the path of movement of the pusher bar. Thus the outermost position of the bar may be adjusted as required by bottles of different diameters. This latter position determines the extent to which rows of bottles or jars will be pushed into the leer by the bar 14.

The machine conveyor '12 which is part of ta-lly spaced drums 60 which are journaled in bearings at the opposite ends of a frame 61. This frame 61 is supported upon pairs of legs 62, one pair being disposed adjacent the deliy'ery end of the conveyor while the other pair is arranged beyond the center of the frame from the first pair. The legs 62 arranged near the center of the conveyor have vertically adjustable connection to the frame 61 so that the elevation of the ma chine comeyor 12 may be varied. These adjustable legs also provide means for level ing the ware bearing reach of the conveyor 12. Rollers 63 011 the lower ends of the adjustable legs provide means whereby the machine conveyor unit may be moved about at will. 6

Continuous operation of the machine conveyor 12 in synchronism with operation of the cross conveyor and pusher bar is obtained by means diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6 as including a change gear cone which is made up of a series of different sized gears 64 secured together and mounted upon the. shaft 25 for rotation therewith. A counter-shaft 65 carries a pair of meshing gears 66 or pinions. one of which is splined to said shaft while the other is adapted to runinmesh' with and be rotated by one of the gears 64. These small gears 66 are in part carried by a shifting device67, including a handle 68 so that they may be operatively engaged with any one of the gears 64 as may be required by the speed at which the shaft 65 is to be rotated. All of these gears are enclosed in a gear housing 69. A worm '70 at one end of the counter-shaft. 65 runs in.

mesh with the worm gear 71 which is mounted on the lower end of a vertical sectional shaft 72;. -A bevel gear 73 carried by the'vert-ical shaft 72 runs in mesh with a bevel pinion 74 on one end of a shaft 75, which in the illustrated form of machine, is disposed between thereaches of the machine conveyor 12 and operatively connected through a sprocket chain 7 6 and sprocket 77 to the adjacent drum 60 over which 'the conveyor 12 is trained. Thus it is seen that by merely changing the position of the moved in a closed horizontal path, a portion of which extends lengthwise of and in proximity to the ware bearing reach of the machine conveyor while another portion overlies the receiving end of the cross conveyor. These fingers 81 are suitably connected to an endless sprocket chain 82 which is trained over a driving sprocket 83 in proximity to the adjacent ends of the machine conveyor 12 and cross conveyor 13 and an idler sprocket 84 at the receiving end of the machine conveyor. A sprocket 85 (Fig. 3) is arranged to in part control the pat-h of travel of the sprocket chain. The driving sprocket 83 is of such diameter and so positioned with respect to the cross conveyor 13 that it causes the fingers 81 to travel over the transfer table 80 and a portion of the receiving end of the cross conveyor 13' so that articles, such as bottles and jars, may be pushed by said fingers from the machine conveyor 12 to said cross conveyor 13. The

front or article engaging surface 81 of each finger 81 is curved so that as said fingers are gradually disengaged from contact with articles (Figs. 3 and 7) the surfaces of the latter will not be marred or distorted as they probably would be in the absence of the continuously curved front surface of the fingers. Horizontally extending guard rails 86 are arranged in proximity to the upper reach; of the machine conveyor 12' (Fig. 3) and are curved at one end to conform with the desired pat-h of travel of articles being trans ferred to the cross conveyor 13. The ends of the curved portions 87 of the rails are aligned with suitable guard rails 88 disposed over the adjacent end portions of the cross conveyor 13.

The driving sprocket 83 (Figs. 1, 3, and 9) for the chain carrying the fingers 81 is mounted upon the upper end of the sectional shaft 72 which is continuously rotated by geais described heretofore and shown in Figs. 6 and 9. In the latter figure, the construction shown and including the sectional shaft .72, provides the sprocket driving means and in addition, separable connection between certain elements of the driving means whereby the machine conveyor unit may be readily removed from the remaining structure for use with another leer feeding apparatus or for repairs. The sectional shaft 72 includes a lower section 72 carrying the worm gear 71 and journaled in vertical bearings 89 which form a part of a gear housing 90 for said gear 71. The lower bearing 89 is provided at its lower end with collar 91 having an upwardly opening channel 92 in its upper side. A supporting bracket 93 secured to the frame 61 of the machine cons veyor is formed with a fOl'kQf which straddles the bearing 89 and is adapted to seat in the channel 92. The upper portionof the bracket 93 is provided with a collar 95, which, when the apparatus is assembled, fits over an upward extension on the upper bear ing 89. The upper section 72 of the shaft 72 is journaled in an upper bearing 96 provided on the outer end of an .arm 97 disposed above the bracket 93 and a lower bearing 98 formed in the collar 95 carried by the bracket 93. Separable connection between the two shaft sections includes a cross key 99 or tongue carried by the upper section and adapted to project into an upwardly facing channel 100 or groove, formed in the adjacent end of the lower shaft section 72 With this construction it is only necessaryto lift one end of the machine conveyor unit 12 sufficiently to allow lateral movement of the brackets 93 relative to the gear housing 90, in order to separate 'the two conveyor units.

Driving connection between the sprocket 83 and upper shaft section 72 includes a timer 101 or adjusting device, whereby the operating positions'of the transfer fingers 81 may be advanced or retarded with respect to the machine and cross conveyors 12 and 13, respectively. A hub 102 is operatively connected to the sprocket 83 by means of spring detents 103 and encloses the upper portion of the upper shaft section 72 and is held in place by means of acap 104' which is threaded onto the upper end of said shaft and in addition overlies the upper end i of said hub 102. That portion of the shaft section 72 within the hub 102 is of sleevelike formation and is provided with a pair of opposed spiral slots 105 which extend along the shaft a distance substantially equal to the length of the hub 102. A pair of perfectly straight diametrically opposed I channels 106 or grooves, are formed in the inner wall of the hub 102. A connector 107 mounted within said sleevelike portion of the shaft upon an adjusting screw 108 has opposed arms 109 thereon extending through the spiral slots 105. Fingers 110 on the ends of said arms project into the straight channels 106. A crank 111 or handle, is seecured to the upper end of the adjusting screw 108. By rotating this crank and therefore the adjusting screw 108, the connector 107 is moved lengthwise of the shaft 72 causing relative rotation of the shaft and hub 102, with the result that the sprocket 83 is given a rotary movement relative to said shaft and thereby. advances or retards the positions of the article engaging fingers 81. Because of the embodiment of the spring detents 103 in the driving means of the sprocket 83, it is apparent that in the event an obstacle of some sort prevents normal travel of the fingers'8l, the detents will automatically become disengaged from the sprocket 83 and allow the hub 102 and shaft 72 to continue uninterrupted operation.

Thus the detents 103 constitute a safety device.

The operation of the leer feeder is substantially as follows: The motor 21 operating through the various gears including the change gear cone eter. .The cross" conveyor 13 and pushen bar 14 are operated by rotation of the shaft 25 (Fig. 1) in such a" fashion that the pusher bar sweeps over the conveyor at regular time intervals and in timed relation to travel of the conveyor across the front end of the leer. Accordingly, it is necessary to so adjust the change gear cone that the cross conveyor 13 (Fig. 3) travels at such a speed relative to that of the machine conveyor 12. that a sufficient number of bottles to form a complete row across the leer, will be placed upon the cross conveyor in alignment with the receiving opening 17 prior to each successive working stroke of the pusher bar' 14. The number of bottles of a. given diameter required to make up a complete row across the leer conveyor 18 may be roughly estimated and thechange gear cone adjusted accordingly. The number of bottles or jars delivered to the cross conveyor during each cycle of operation is dependent upon which of the gears 64 of the change gear cone is providing the driving connection between the shaft 25 and the counter-shaft 65. For

, example, if the gears 66 carried by the shifter 67 are driven by the smallest gear 64 eight bottles to the cross conveyor just prior to each working stroke of the pusher bar 14. The. next adjacent gear 64.- provides for the delivery of nine bottles to the cross conveyor and so on. Thus, it will be apparent that with the drive shown, the feeder maybe adjusted to handle quite a wide range of sizes of articles from a large size of which only eight may be placed in a single row across the leer, to comparatively small sized articles of which approximately twenty-seven may be placed in a single row. Obviously changes in this regard may be made to handle a wider range of sizes, if ,desired. Adjustment of the speed of travel of the machine conveyor 12 correspondingly changes the speed of travel of the article engaging and transfer fingers 81. After a proper setting of the relative speeds of the machine conveyor and cross conveyor has been obtained, the speed of operation of the leer feeder as a whole is adjusted in accordance with the rate of speed at which the articles to be handled are being produced. Obviously the leer conveyor 18 must travel at a sufiiciently' high speed to prevent contact between bottles or jars of successive rows which are placed in the leer.

It frequently happens that the bottles or I ars are moved in such timed relation to movement of the pusher bar that the latter instead of making a clean sweep of just the right number of bottles to form a complete row strikes the bottle or jar which is intended to be the first bottle of the next succeeding row. This, of course, may result in tipping over the bottle so struck and not infrequently upsets and distorts quite a number of bottles to the extent that they must be discarded. By means'of the timer 101 or adjusting device (Figs. 1, 3, and 9), this fault may be quickly corrected. By rotating the crank 111 the normal operating positionsof the fingers 81 may be advanced or retarded so that bottles which have been heretofore placed in such position that the pusher bar upsets them, will not be prematurely engaged by the pusher bar. Such an adjustment is entirely within the cone trol of the operator, who, while operating the crank 111, may observe the results of such adjustment. 4

The pusher bar 14 moves in a more or less circular path. In Fig. 1 the bar has almost reached its lowermost position from which it will be moved toward and a short distance through the receiving opening 17 under influence of the coil springs 50, the periods of operation of which are controlled by rotation of the cams 54, The cam 54 (Fig. 1) is about to release the bell crank lever 52, whereupon the spring 50 will rock said lever and pull the pusher bar toward the"receiving opening 17 of the leer. At the inner end of the working stroke of the bar, its direction of travel is reversed due to contact of the cams 54 with the bell crank levers 52. Simultaneously with such reverse movement of the bar the cams 41 (Fig. 2) operate through the levers 38 and parallel links 37 to lift said bar. Thus the pusher bar during its reverse or retractive movement will be lifted to a plane above the next succeeding row of bottles which is being placed in front of the receiving opening 17. Once again the pusher bar,-due to the contour of the cams 41, is lowered to approximately the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1 preparatory to pushing another row of bottles or jars into the leer.

In the event it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the machine conveyor unit independently of the remaining feeder elements, it is only necessary to stop operation of the mechanism and lift the inner end of the frame 61 a short distance and then move it laterally away from the cross conveyor 13.- By lifting the inner end of the frame 61 (Fig. 9) the bracket 93 and all of the parts thereabove are moved relative to the gear housing so that the fork 94 and collar 95 together with the upper shaft section 72 may be moved to the right in Fig.9 and thereby become completely separated from the remaining structure. By means of the wheeled support for the machine conveyor unit, movement thereof from place'to place may be easily accomplished.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown a modification consisting of a rotary guide rail 112 mounted upon and rotating with the driving sprocket 83 at the juncture of the machine conveyor 12 and cross conveyor 13. This rail, whichcomprises a plurality of arcuate sections 113 connected to the sprocket 83 by means of screws 114 extending through slots 115 in radial arms 116 on said sections, is intended to occupy such a position relative to the article engaging fingers 81 that hottles or other articles contact only with the curved surface 81 of said fingers and the rotating guide rail. Such an arrangement has proven exceptionally effective in prevent-- ing such distortion of the articles as has heretofore resulted from jamming of the articles into the corners formed by the fingers and stationary or/and improperly positioned guide rail. Also, the articles clear the fingers over the cross conveyor 13 with greater case than where they are permitted to engage other than the curved areas.

By adjusting the rail sections radially of the sprocket 83 it is evident that'regardless of the diameter of the articles being handled, they may be caused to engage only the curved surface of the fingers 81. Through the provision of the overlapping ends on the rail sections 113 (Fig. 12) the rails may be adjusted radially a considerable degree without interrupting the effective active surface of the rail as a whole.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a leer conveyor, a cross conveyor extending transversely of and adjacent one end of the leer conveyor, a machine conveyor having one end disposed adjacent one end of the cross conveyor, means providing in effect continuations of the ware bearing surfaces of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor over which articles may be pushed from one conveyor to the other, combined article pushing and spacing means comprising a series of equally spaced fingers movable in a closed path and lengthwise of and in synchronism with the machine conveyor and'over said machine conveyor and one end portion of the cross conveyor, means for moving the cross c0nveyor, machine conveyor, and said series of fingers in synchronism, and means for changing the relative speeds of travel of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor.

2. In combination, a cross conveyor, a machine conveyor having one end disposed adjacent one end of the cross conveyor, means providing in effect continuations of the ware bearing surfaces of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor over which articles may be pushed from one conveyor to the other, combined article pushing and spacing means comprising a series of equally spaced fingers movable in a closed path and lengthwise of and in synchronism with the machine conveyor and over said machine conveyor and one end portionof the cross conveyor, means for moving the cross conveyor, machine conveyor and said series of fingers in synchronism, and means for changing the relative speeds of travel of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor.

3. In combination, a cross conveyor, a machine conveyor having one end disposed adjacent one end of the cross conveyor. means providing in effect continuations of the ware bearing surfaces of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor over which articles may be pushed from one. conveyor to the other, combined article pushing and spacing means comprising a series of equally spaced fingers movable in a closed path and lengthwise of and in synchronism with the machine conveyor and over .said machine conveyor and one end portion of the cross conveyor, means for moving the cross conveyor, machine conveyor, and said series of fingers in synchronism, means for changing the relative speeds of travel of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor. and means for advancing or retarding the operating positions of the fingers with respect to the machine conveyor and cross conveyor.

4. In combination, a cross conveyor. a machine conveyor having one end disposed adjacent one end of the cross conveyor. means providing in effect continuations of the ware bearing surfaces of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor over which articles may be pushed from one conveyor to the other-,combined article pushing and spacing means comprising a series. of equally spaced fingers movable in a closed path and lengthwise of and in synchronism with the machine conveyor and over said machine conveyor and one end portion of the .cross machine conveyor over which articles may -,be pushed from one conveyor to the other,

combined article pushing and spacingmeans comprising-a series of equally spaced-fingers movable in a closed path and lengthwise of and in synchronism with the machine conveyor and-over said machine conveyor and one end portion of the cross conveyor, means for moving the cross conveyor, machine conveyor, and said se'ries'of fingers in synchronlsm, means for changing the relative speeds of travel of the cross conveyor and machine conveyor, andmeans for simultaneously ad- 'justing the speeds of travel of the machine conveyor and said fingers with respect to the speed of travel of the cross conveyor.

' 6. In combination, a cross conveyor, means for operating the cross conveyor, a machine conveyor by which articles are carried to a point adjacent one end iof the cross conveyor, means including a series of continuously moving fingers for transferring the articles from the machine conveyor to the,

cross conveyor, driving mechanism for the machine conveyor and fingers driven by the means foroperatmg the cross conveyor, and

1 means whereby the operating speed of said driving mechanism may be varied independently of the cross conveyor operating means.

7. In combination, a cross conveyor unit, a machine conveyor unit arranged to deliver articles in succession to one end of the cross conveyor unit, a single driving means com-. mon to both conveyor units, power transmitting means for the machine conveyor unit adjustable to regulate and control the relative speeds of the machine conveyor and cross conveyor u-nits, a series of article engaging fingers includedin the machine, conveyor unit and adapted to push articles from the machine conveyor unit to the cross con-. veyor unit, and means for adjusting the operating positions of the fingers relative to said units.

8. In combination, a pair of horizontal conveyors traveling in directions substan I tially at rlght angles to each other, means for transferring artlcles from one conveyor to the other comprising a series of article engagin fingers movable in a closed path within t e angle between the conveyors and extending in partover and in proximity to the conveyors, said fingers each having a convexly curved area on its, front edge to engage the articles, and a guide rail arranged to limit engagement between articles and the.

fingers to said curved areas.

9. In combination, a pair of horizontal conveyors, means for transferring articles from one conveyor to the other comprlsmg a series of article engaging fingers movable in a closed path extending in part over and in proximity to the conveyors, said fingers each havlng a curved area on 1ts front edge to engage the articles, a gulde rall arranged to direct the, articles during the transfer,

and means causing'the ide rail to move in synchronism'with the ngers.

10. In combination, a pair of horizontal conveyors, means for transferring articles from one conveyor to the other comprising a series of art-ic in a, closed path extending in part over and in proximity to the conveyors, said fingers each having a curved area on itsfront edge to engage the articles, a. sectional rotary guide rail movable in synchronism with the fingers and arranged to limit'engagement between the articles and the fingers to said curved areas, and means for adjusting the frail sections radially relative to the fingerss 11. The combination of a cross conveyor un1t,'a machlne conveyor u'mt arranged to deliver articles in succession to one end bf the cross conveyor unit, a driving element,

and means for transmittin wer from said element to said units for driving the latter, said transmitting meansjncluding interconnected gearing between said units by which one unit is caused to operate at a predetermined speed relative to that of the other unit, said gearing comprising a sectional shaft, the machine conveyor unit beingfree for removal from the cross conveyor unit when said shaft sections are separated.

12. The combination of a cross conveyor unit', a machine conveyor unit arranged to deliver articles in succession at one end of the cross conveyor 'unit, 'means for driving said units, and interconnected driving mechanism between said units, whereby the units aredriven at a predetermined relative speed,

said interconnected mechanism comprising a vertically disposed sectional shaft, the shaft sections being separable by a-relativ'eendwise movement thereof, one/of 'said sections being carried with the machine conveyor unit, the

e engaging fingers movable latterbeingfreed for removal from the cross conveyor unit by said relative endwise movement of the shaft sections. 1

Signed at Alton, Illinois, this 28 day of Feb. 1931..

OLIVER K. HUTGHINSON. 

